Badato bros dominate Kunlun tilt

The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The celebrated Badato brothers led the Filipino charge in the Kunlun Fight 4 World Tour Sunday night held before a jampacked crowd at the grand ballroom of the posh Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino.

Young Michael Badato set the tone for an early celebratory mood after scoring an impressive stoppage of Mokkharat Worawut of Thailand in their 75 kg. muay thai super-fight.

The end came at the 2:45 mark of the second round.

The `Bad Ass’ later offered the victory to his late father.

“The last time I fought here in the Philippines, the following day my father die,” said the Fil-Australian national muay thai champion of the World Boxing Council (WBC), referring to his last fight in the country in 2011 during the World Muay Thai Championship. “I dedicate this win to him.”

Elder brother Reinhardt Badato later had to settle for a split draw against Wang Wanben of China at 60 kg of another muay thai bout.

The match was a tightly-fought one that after three rounds the three judges had it all draw, necessitating both fighters to go an extra round to decide the outcome, delighting the animated crowd that included former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson.

Still the fight ended up in a split draw by scores of 40-39, 39-38, 39-39, prompting promoter Tony Reyes of Muay Thai Team USA to suggest a possible rematch between the two gallant warriors in the future.